Russia: Rosneft and ExxonMobil conduct Arctic oil exploration in Kara Sea

• published: 07 Aug 2014
• views: 1455

Video ID: 20140807-045 W/S Russian research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin conduct 2D seismic studies in the Kara Sea M/S Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin's crew unleash seismic cable with acoustic detectors W/S Seismic cable with detectors in the sea SOT Igor Trofimov, head of seismic crew onboard research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin (Russian): "Rosneft, Gazprom and other smaller oil companies are intensifying their seismic exploration activities now." M/S Crew put air gun into the water W/S Crew put air gun into the water SOT Igor Trofimov, head of seismic crew onboard research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin (Russian): "I think the Arctic is a region with high potential and based on my experience from the projects I have taken part of in the last few years the work (exploration activities) should be continued in future." W/S Air guns bore (probe) the bed of the sea C/U Air gun M/S Air gun SOT Igor Trofimov, head of seismic crew onboard research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin (Russian): "In my opinion oil exploration in Russia is now reaching the level that can be compared with such countries as France, Norway and even USA and Canada." M/S Seismic crew of research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin C/U Picture of the bottom on a monitor M/S Crew watching results of 2D seismic study C/U Map of the East Prinovozemelsky blocks in the Kara Sea M/S Command bridge C/U Steering wheel W/S Captain gives a command to his first officer W/S Research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin in the sea M/S Russian Flag on the aft of the vessel M/S Research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin M/S Command bridge W/S Research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin in the port of Kerkenes SCRIPT Russia's state oil company, Rosneft, in conjunction with ExxonMobil have formed a joint venture, Karmorneftegaz, and have recently started 2D seismic studies on the country's Arctic shelf in the Kara Sea. The Russian research vessel Geolog Dmitry Nalivkin left the Norwegian port of Kirkenes on July 24 to carry out exploration activities on the three East Prinovozemelsky blocks in the body of water located between the northern coast of European Russia and the Novaya Zemlya island chain. Seismic studies will last for three months this year and will be carried out by the specialists of the Murmansk-based Marine Arctic Geological Expedition Company on the East Prinovozemelsky blocks, licensed by Karmorneftegas. The scientists will explore an area of more than 6500 km (4038 miles) during this expedition until the winter ice flows cover the sea again. The specialists use a variety of different guns that fire air at a pressure of 140 atmospheres in order to probe the seabed and then collect radio-echo data through an 8 km (4.9 miles) long cable with acoustic detectors. The results will be processed at a later date in laboratories to locate prospective areas for drilling. One of the central features of the exploration work, ordered by Karmorneftegaz SARL (which is a joint venture with Rosneft and ExxonMobil to operate in the Kara Sea), is the strict environmental requirements even demanding a halt to all activities in order to not harm animals which appearing in the area. The East Prinovozemelsky blocks licensed by Rosneft and operated by Karmorneftegas are estimated to hold 21.5 billion tons of oil equivalents. The first exploration well is scheduled to start drilling in East Prinovozemelskiy Block 1 this month while exploration activities there are planned to continue up to 2016. Rosneft, through a number of different Joint Venture companies, launched projects in the Kara and Barents Seas in 2010 after obtaining four licenses to explore Russia's Arctic shelf. Three of the licenses relate to blocks in the Kara Sea (East Prinovozemelsky 1, 2 and 3) and the fourth one is for the South-Russky block in the Pechora Sea. The Kara Sea is an extension of the West Siberian oil and gas province, which accounts for 60 percent of Russia's current oil production. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ruptly Twitter: http://twitter.com/Ruptly LiveLeak: http://www.liveleak.com/c/Ruptly Google Plus: http://google.com/+RuptlyTV Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/Ruptly YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/RuptlyTV DailyMotion: http://www.dailymotion.com/ruptly Video on Demand: http://www.ruptly.tv